Ahmed Tijani’s Unique Approach to Redefining Logistics Leadership

By Tosin Clegg

In the high-velocity logistics landscape, leadership is no longer measured by tenure or title. The true edge lies in system fluency, the ability to interpret patterns, adapt quickly, and align technology with human-centered strategy. As logistics becomes more interconnected, unpredictable, and global, tomorrow’s leaders will be defined by their agility and data intelligence.

This evolution has exposed deep, systemic pain points. Across Africa, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grapple with fragmented supply chains, erratic demand, and underdeveloped infrastructure. Traditional top-down leadership models are not equipped to navigate this complexity. Without leaders who understand systems design and resilience, many African SMEs risk operational failure and diminished competitiveness.

Among those redefining this is Ahmed Tijani Olasunkanmi, a systems-driven strategist whose work is changing how logistics leadership looks in Africa. Rather than pushing blanket efficiency goals, Ahmed embeds intelligence into the core of logistics operations, equipping SMEs with tools to forecast demand, optimize delivery, and cut costs sustainably.

Demand forecasting has long been a major logistical challenge for African businesses. Limited data visibility often results in inaccurate stock planning. Ahmed’s introduction of AI-powered demand forecasting empowers SMEs to move from reactive stock decisions to predictive planning, saving time, revenue, and customer trust in the process.

Concerning delivery, last-mile logistics remains fraught with delays, unclear addresses, and high fuel costs and other challenges. Ahmed applies AI-driven route optimization, significantly improving delivery accuracy while lowering carbon footprints. These improvements are transformative for business continuity.
His influence extends into energy resilience, a foundational challenge for logistics across Africa. At Sterling Bank, Ahmed led the $7.5 million Deep Energy Retrofit Project, delivering Nigeria’s largest building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system. The project resulted into lower emissions, reduced energy costs, and uninterrupted logistics workflows. Beyond corporate impact, Ahmed has improved energy access for over 1,000 homes and 50 businesses, enabling logistics functions in underserved regions from cold-chain systems to e-commerce fulfillment. Without stable power, these digital solutions would remain inaccessible.

He also brings logistics efficiency into humanitarian impact. As a financial advisor to the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), Ahmed supports logistics-powered emergency responses, saving lives by accelerating critical care delivery in underserved communities. “Leadership isn’t just about reaching the destination; it’s about the people, systems, and values that get you there, sustainably and transparently,” says Ahmed. His service-first mindset reflects the future of logistics leadership, values-driven, tech-enabled, and grounded in real-world impact.

As African logistics undergoes generational change, Ahmed Tijani stands as a contributor, and a blueprint for scalable, sustainable logistics.